§ Mr. Buxtonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will alter the present routine arrangements for notifying next of kin when fatal casualties occur in non-operational areas, so as to put their on a more personal basis and whether he will afford facilities for returning fatal casualties to England for burial if so desired, or give every assistance to next of kin to attend funerals overseas in such cases.
§ Mr. MulleyNo. As I have explained to the hon. Member in a letter, the present arrangements for notifying next of kin are regarded as preferable for the bereaved to any other. Under normal conditions we bring back the bodies of deceased Service men from North-West Europe if the next of kin so wish or fly out two relatives to attend the funeral, but practical difficulties prevent our extending these arrangements.